As the controlling speed in a short field, Klaravich Stables’ Randomized had a tactical edge in Sunday’s $232,500 Beldame (G2) at Aqueduct. Add her supreme class into the equation, and the 3-10 favorite had her three rivals over the proverbial barrel. The Chad Brown filly performed just as she was entitled to do in the circumstances, galloping by 3 3/4 lengths without being threatened, or extended, in her stepping stone to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
Jockey Joel Rosario, who rationed out her speed in her front-running Alabama (G1) coup last time out at Saratoga, was able to dictate a slower opening half-mile here. Getting away with splits of :25.02 and :49.18 in the compact group, Randomized began to ratchet it up in the third quarter, when Riding Pretty made a move as though to press. Her gambit put her a half-length off Randomized at the six-furlong mark in 1:12.72, but she couldn’t sustain it.
Randomized, still on a tight hold, continued on cruise control a few paths off the rail. The close-stalking A Mo Reay tried to leverage her inside position to challenge turning into the stretch. But Randomized had more than ample reserves to pull away and polish off 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.05.
A Mo Reay was much the best of the rest, crossing the wire 4 3/4 lengths clear of Nostalgic in third. Nostalgic, who had been tracking early, was unable to maintain her spot and dropped back on the far turn. Riding Pretty faded to last of the quartet.
Rosario’s after-action report confirmed that the race was as easy as it looked.
“She was very quick out of the gate,” Rosario said. “I was trying to get her to settle, because if you let her go, she can go :22 (for an opening quarter). I was able to get into the first turn and get her to relax. She dropped the bridle really nicely, and I feel like she did a good job.
“They looked like they were coming, but I just wanted to get her to relax at that point (on the far turn). I wasn’t too worried about anyone challenging me. She has natural speed.”
Randomized was racking up her third straight stakes victory, following the July 14 Wilton S. and Alabama, but first versus elders. The daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) champion Nyquist will bring a record of 6-4-0-1, $603,350 to Santa Anita, where she could have another crack at Pretty Mischievous.
That Godolphin filly has been the pro tempore division leader since turning the Kentucky Oaks (G1)/Acorn (G1) double. Randomized threw in a clunker in the Acorn, her only prior match-up with Pretty Mischievous, but she’s matured into a different proposition. A late-season run at the Eclipse Award could be within reach, if Randomized can correct the record in the Distaff.
“It looks like she’s getting stronger and better the older she gets,” Rosario observed. “She looks very good. She was able to maintain her speed and she really did the work.
“She looked like she was going nice and easy. She has so much speed and she had a nice stride and she kept moving forward. It’s hard to say how good she is, but she looked very good today.”
Bred by Cove Springs in Kentucky and purchased for $420,000 as a Keeneland September yearling, Randomized is out of the Elusive Quality mare French Passport. Her well-related dam is a half-sister to Grade 2 winners Smooth Air and Overdriven, as well as Super Phoebe, who’s responsible for multiple Grade 1 star and $2.2 million-earner Got Stormy.
